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Senate week in review

March 24-28

[MARCH 31, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- A $10 billion bonding plan topped action in the Illinois Senate last week as Democrats in the Senate Executive Committee advanced Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pension bonding scheme. House Bill 2660 passed on a partisan roll call, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

Republican lawmakers are leery of backing the massive borrowing plan until more details are provided on the plan's risk and how it fits into an overall proposal to balance the state budget.

According to Bomke, Republicans remain open to the concept but want full details before they approve a borrowing plan that will more than double the state's debt. Republican lawmakers want to fully review the details to ensure Blagojevich's plan will not put Illinois' finances in further jeopardy. A similar bonding plan recently backfired in New Jersey.

Over Republican objections, the Senate passed 247 proposed laws with a single vote and without any debate. Republican lawmakers expressed disappointment that all discussion was denied on issues ranging from taxes to gambling expansion to Chicago pension sweeteners.

In other business, the Senate continued final passage of Senate bills this week on issues ranging from ethanol to public financing of elections to sexual assault. The following are among those measures approved by the Senate this week.

Ethanol (SB 46) -- Extends the sales tax credit on ethanol and bio-diesel fuels through 2013.

Home repair fraud (SB 240) -- Increases penalties and lowers monetary triggers for home repair fraud committed against senior citizens and disabled individuals.

Judicial elections (SB 1415) -- Allows public financing of judicial elections to ensure the integrity and impartiality of the bench.

Traffic lights (SB 21) -- Prohibits the sale, installation or unauthorized operation of a traffic control signal pre-emption device. 

Metro East Sports Authority (SB 210) -- Creates the Metro East Sports Authority Act.

Deer hunting (SB 257) -- Allows the use of handguns during open season for deer.

Property tax appeals (SB 270) -- Gives Cook County homeowners more time to file a tax objection complaint.

Handguns (SB 356) -- Requires the Illinois State Police to publish a list of handguns that melt or deform at a temperature of less than 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Children's health (SB 359) -- Licenses children's community-based health care centers to provide care for medically frail, technologically dependent, clinically stable children in a homelike environment.

Mercury (SB 371) -- Prohibits the sale of mercury fever thermometers after July 1, 2004.

Sexual assault (SB 406) -- Clarifies that consent to sexual relations may be withdrawn at any time.

Sex offenders (SB 641) -- Provides apartment and condominium residents with grass-roots information about how to access the sex offender registry.

Vision screening (SB 805) -- Provides parents with information about school vision screening and encourages them to also seek comprehensive eye exams for their child at the same time as other school health examinations.

Needles (SB 880) -- Allows any adult to purchase up to 20 sterile hypodermic syringes or needles at pharmacy without a prescription.

American flag (SB 1147) -- Prohibits condominium associations or homeowners associations from restricting the display of the American flag or the installation of a flagpole on which to display it.

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Farm development (SB 1166) -- Allows more farmers and agribusiness to qualify for financing and refinancing of debt. (SB 1211) -- Increases state backing for the loans, providing incentive for banks to offer better interest rates.

Freedom Trail Commission (SB 1363) -- Creates the Freedom Trail Commission to promote and preserve the history of the Freedom Trail and Underground Railroad in Illinois.

Tax checkoffs (SB 1401) -- Creates an income tax checkoff for asthma and lung research to benefit the American Lung Association's Asthma Clinical Research Program. (SB 1044) -- Creates an income tax checkoff to benefit Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) research.

Meth (SB 1578) -- Holds a person convicted of the manufacture of methamphetamines liable for the cost of any emergency response connected with their crime.

Earned income tax credit (SB 4) -- Extends a tax credit for working low-income families.

Teen drivers (SB 58) -- Limits the number of passengers 16- and 17-year-old drivers may travel with during the first six months they have a license.

Property tax freeze (SB 466) -- Allows disabled individuals to qualify for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.

Senior citizens homestead exemption (SB 505) -- Prorates a senior citizen's property tax assessment on a new home for the first year after they move.

Courts (SB 75) -- Establishes separate circuit courts and adds judges for overburdened counties.

Eating disorders (SB 601) -- Adds eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia to the list of mental disorders that must receive the same insurance coverage as biologically based illnesses.

Technology in the classroom (SB 897) -- Provides grants to schools to buy computers and upgrade technology.

Car titles (SB 1149) -- Requires banks to return car titles more quickly after a loan is paid in full.

Insanity defense (SB 1342) -- Requires inpatient treatment and extends conditional release requirements for criminals found not guilty by reason of insanity to ensure they receive the proper treatment for their illness and do not relapse, putting themselves and others at risk.

Budget stabilization (SB 1757) -- Requires the state to budget no more money than the previous year's revenues if the revenue estimates exceed that level, putting the excess money into funds for emergency use when revenues do not meet expectations and to pay off state debt.

State revenue (SB 1758) -- Creates the Revenue Estimating Council, consisting of the comptroller and the directors of the Bureau of the Budget and the Economic and Fiscal Commission.

State debt (SB 1759) -- Requires the state to budget funds to repay certain debt from the previous fiscal year, beginning in fiscal 2006.

Appellate Court building (SJR 4) -- Names the 4th District Appellate Court building in Springfield after Justice Benjamin Miller.

[News release]

Police Reports

Link to Illinois sex offender information provided by the Illinois State Police:

http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/frames.htm

Searches available by city, county, ZIP code and name.

Community Policing Activities

Court News

Name, age, address; date, charge; sentence

(Week ending 4-3-03)

• Rhonda J. Hadge, 50, 1230 W. Forrest, Decatur; 7-12-02, deceptive practice; pleaded guilty, 12 months court supervision, $100 fine plus court costs, $10 restitution

• Terry L. Jacobs, 33, 608 Locust St., Delavan; 9-24-02, deceptive practice; 12 months court supervision, $150 fine plus court costs, $187.88 restitution

• Kristen T. Jefferson, 25, 265 E. 71st St., Chicago; 3-97, 4-97, deceptive practice; pleaded guilty, six days Logan County Jail plus court costs, $368.98 restitution

• Kristen T. Jefferson, 25, 265 E. 71st St., Chicago; 3-97, deceptive practice; pleaded guilty, six days Logan County Jail plus court costs, $25.00 restitution

• Justin Lowry, 20, 120 Bond; 3-1-03, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor; pleaded guilty, six months conditional discharge, $300 fine plus court costs

• Steven D. Malinowski, 19, 6523 27th St., Berwyn; 10-9-02, retail theft; pleaded guilty, 12 months conditional discharge, $300 fine plus court costs

• Todd Russell, 23, 315 N. Poplar, Wapella; 2-25-03, unlawful possession of cannabis; pleaded guilty, 12 months court supervision, $400 fine plus court costs, $200 mandatory assessment, $100 lab fee

• Howard M. Streeter, 19, 1 Blackfoot Court, Florissant, Mo.; 12-13-02, battery; pleaded guilty, 12 months court supervision, $300 fine plus court costs

• Female, 17, Ophir Avenue; 3-1-03, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor; pleaded guilty, six months court supervision, $300 fine plus court costs

• Male, 17, 400 block Eighth Street; 2-12-03, battery; pleaded guilty, 12 months court supervision, plus court costs

Marriage Licenses

(Week ending 4-3-03)

• Richard W. Deters, Middletown
  Ardith L. Tindall, Middletown

• Ryan S. Livingston, Riverton
  Brandi L. Havener, Riverton

• Jeremy D. Duffer, Lincoln
  Laura A. Shelley, Lincoln

• Ronald R. Brust, Springfield
  Linda L. Vanover, Springfield

• Justin D. Cheger, Lincoln
  Jonae D. Frontone, Lincoln

Dissolutions

(Week ending 4-3-03)

• Bruce A. Lowe, Mason City
  Janis K. Lowe, Mason City

• Jeremy Flener, Lincoln
  Lisa Flener, Lincoln

Most Wanted

[Click here]

Anyone with information concerning crimes in the Lincoln and Logan County area is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 732-3000 or send a message to crime@ccaonline.com. Your information will be kept confidential and you may remain anonymous. If your information leads to the arrest of people involved, Crime Stoppers will pay you a cash reward up to $1,000.

Crime Stoppers has an answering machine to answer your calls. This is to protect you if you wish to remain anonymous. (Your calls cannot be traced with the machine.) You need to let us know how you can be contacted about the incident, or you must watch to see if the subject has been arrested. This is so we can make a payout.

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